The popularity of fantasy series has been on the rise in recent years. The HBO series Game of Thrones> has proven a smash hit in its first season, The Lord of the Rings> remains a beloved trilogy of films and new television series such as Grimm> are bringing fairy tales to primetime.
As the genre enjoys its popularity, fans looking for a bit more to enjoy need to look no further than some of the best fantasy comics available today.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz>
Based on the largely popular series of novels by L. Frank Baum, this Marvel mini-series written by Eric Shanower focused on being as close an adaptation of the original work as possible.
Those familiar only with the Judy Garland movie will be able to see the original inspiration for some of their favorite characters, as well as the parts of the story that didn’t make it onto the silver screen.
Bringing the book to life is the whimsical cartoon style of artist Skottie Young. His loose, sketchy style fits well with the mystical land of Oz, and provides a lighter take on even the darkest events.
The original eight-issue mini-series premiered in 2009, and has been followed by two more, adapting the next two novels. With a fourth adaptation ready to begin this month, fantasy fans looking for familiar territory may enjoy this series.
Beanworld>
The odd creation of cartoonist Larry Marder, Beanworld> was first published from 1985 to 1993. However, in recent years, Marder has returned to his creation and new hardcovers have been published by Dark Horse.
Beanworld> is the abstract tale of Mister Spook and the bean people he protects living around the great tree Gran’Ma’Pa. Living a simple hunter-gatherer lifestyle, things begin to change as outsiders start to wander into Beanworld, upsetting the natural order of things and dragging the beans into a much larger world they know little about.
Putting a pin in Beanworld> is a challenge, as the tale relies highly on interpretation and reader-to-reader experience. At its core, the series explores ideas such as individuality vs. conformity, the limits of creativity and the meaning of life and the universe.
That said, the deeper themes are delivered through fun, bite-sized adventures featuring the citizens of Beanworld. Though it may seem strange at first glance, readers willing to give Beanworld> a chance are in for a unique ride.
Bone>
Winner of numerous Eisner and Harvey Awards, Jeff Smith’s magnum opus is the story of Fone Bone and his cousins as they find themselves wandering into a mysterious valley after they are cast out of their hometown. Here, they meet a young girl named Rose and become swept up into a war against the evil rat creatures and their mysterious leaders.
The accessibility of Bone> has made it a favorite with fans of all ages. Even Time Magazine has recognized it as one of the most important English graphic novels.
Much of the series’ success comes from the warmth and personality of its main character, Fone Bone. His relationships with his cousins and the citizens of the Valley drive much of the story forward, and when the larger fantasy elements are put on the back burner, his presence keeps the story interesting.
The series has been collected numerous times over the years, including a colorized run of graphic novels by Scholastic and a single 1,300-page tome for the hardcore fans. Those with an interest in the epic nature of The Lord of the Rings> will find a lot to love in Bone>.
Ghostopolis>
Best known for the creation of Earthworm Jim>, cartoonist Doug TenNapel has continued to produce graphic novels for the past two decades. One of his most recent works, Ghostopolis> shows the creator still has a lot of innovative ideas in his head.
Teenage boy Garth is the main character, and at the outset of the story, he has been diagnosed with a terminal disease. Though he remains optimistic, it isn’t until a chance encounter with Frank Gallows, an agent with the Supernatural Immigration Task Force, that his journey begins.
Garth finds himself teleported to the ghost realm, and he must find a way back home. At the same time, Gallows is sent on a recovery mission to find the boy. All the while, the mysterious ruler of Ghostopolis seeks to find and crush young Garth for the power he holds.
Much of Ghostopolis’> charm is in TenNapel’s exploration of the ghostly world, showing off the numerous types of ghouls and supernatural creatures that inhabit it. The middle of the book spends a great amount of time allowing the reader to take in the sights of the other side, and it benefits greatly from this.
TenNapel continues to produce new graphic novels each year, and Ghostopolis> provides a perfect look at his style and creativity.